“But if it’s there, why doesn’t it run out through the stones?” asked Chot. “They’re piled up so loose they wouldn’t hold back any water like a dam would.”
“I know it,” agreed Rick. “And what I think is that the river has been turned out of its course somewhere back in the other tunnel that’s maybe behind the pile of rocks.”
“You mean Lost River is lost in another tunnel?” asked his chum.
“That’s what I think, and it’s up to you and me to find it.”
“I’m with you!” cried Chot, eagerly. “It’ll be fun to be on our own, with Ruddy to help. But maybe Uncle Tod won’t let us,” he said, dubiously.
“Oh, I guess he will,” spoke Rick hopefully. “We’ve been off by ourselves a lot lately—we could go and stay all day—take some grub with us.”
“But maybe it would take longer than a day.”
“That’s nothing. We could stay all night. We’ve been camping before, when we went on Scout hikes.”
“Sure we have, Rick.”
“All right, then if we have to stay all night we will, but we’ll try to do it in one day.”